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New England Patriots links 7/27/20 - Getting ready for the most interesting training camp since 2000

Daily news and links for Monday July 27, 2020.

By Michael McDermott

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Super Bowl LIV - San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

TEAM TALK

LOCAL LINKS

  • Mike Reiss (ESPN) gives his thoughts on the upcoming week including the QB competition, the value of a training staff, Josh McDaniels, and the Vikings giving their head coach a contract extension. Mike Zimmer is the 7th longest tenured head coach with his current team, with Bill Belichick obviously being #1 on that list.
  • Tom Curran (NBC Boston) asks if the Patriots will be able to afford another season of Cam Newton if he plays well in 2020. Patriots are projected to have about $59M in cap space to work with next offseason if the 2021 NFL Salary Cap number is $175M.
    I don’t think Cam Newton is a long term play to begin with, at most I see him sticking around through 2021.
  • Dave D’Onofrio (Boston.com) flashes back to Bill Belichick’s first training camp with the Patriots in the summer of 2000. “Back on July 16, 2000, the biggest story in Boston sports was Red Sox outfielder Carl Everett, who a day earlier had headbutted an umpire in his rage over being told he was standing too close to home plate.”
    A lot has changed in 20 years, hasn’t it?
  • Zachary Downing (Musket Fire) sees if Patriots should have intentionally let Seattle score in Super Bowl XLIX? “We’ve reached a conclusion. It’s not that shocking, but in case there was any doubt, the best way to win a football game is by trying to prevent the other team from scoring.”
    Up by 4 points, make them have to score to beat you. Patriots intentionally let Ahmad Bradshaw score in Super Bowl XLVI because a field goal would have beaten them 18-17 with no chance to comeback. Surrendering a touchdown made it a minute, but non-zero probability to pull a comeback off.
  • Dakota Randall (NESN) chronicles Patriot activities over the weekend. Chase Winovich posting himself running shirtless and Mohammed Sanu working out on the Cape Cod Beach.
    Both players are going to need to become key contributors this season
  • Danny Jaillet (Patriots Wire): Former Panthers teammate Greg Olsen believes Cam Newton will be able to build a good working relationship with Bill Belichick.
    Everything I’ve heard from his former teammates and beat writers who have covered Cam Newton over the years have been overwhelmingly positive since the deal was announced, so he deserves the benefit of the doubt.
  • Chris Mason (MassLive): Rodney Harrison says Cam Newton will help the Patriots “forget” about Tom Brady.
    As Bill Belichick would say, let’s talk about the players that are here.
  • Andrew Callahan (Boston Herald): Patriots training camp countdown — No. 5: Who could be a surprise cut?
    None of these players would be a complete surprise, although I expect at least two of those five players to make the 53-man roster and contribute for the 2020 season in some capacity.
  • Karen Guregian (Boston Herald): Patriots training camp countdown — No. 4: Can N’Keal Harry make the proverbial second year leap?
    I hate to put extra pressure on him, but if Harry isn’t able to contribute in a massive way in 2020 the team is going to have problems. Doesn’t have to put up All-Pro numbers, although that would be nice, but he needs to be a factor to make this offense work.

NATIONAL NEWS

  • Kevin Patra (NFL.com): Minnesota Vikings and head coach Mike Zimmer finalizing a 3-year contract extension.
  • Bill Barnwell (ESPN) grades the Jamal Adams trade. The Jets traded their star safety for two 1sts, a 3rd, and Bradley McDougald. “Jets grade: B+ Seahawks grade: C+”
  • Around the NFL (NFL.com) chronicles Jets and Seahawks player reactions to the Jamal Adams trade. Looks like there may be some beef brewing between Jamal Adams and Le’Veon Bell.
    Given the Jets are a poorly-run organization and Le’Veon Bell’s track record, I’m more inclined to believe Adams’ story.
  • Jordan Raanan (ESPN) reports that the New York Giants have released kicker Aldrick Rosas. Rosas was involved in a hit-and-run accident in June, with the collision report estimate he was driving 100 MPH and possibly under the influence of alcohol.
    No amount of words can accurately describe how many bad decisions he made that day.
  • Joe Andrews (Sports Illustrated): Chiefs Right Guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif opts out of playing the 2020 season to continue battling the COVID 19 epidemic as a doctor.
    I wish him the best of luck to him on that and that he’s able to make an impact in that field and in the NFL again. Players like him make the NFL enjoyable.
  • Charean Williams (Pro Football Talk): 6 players from 5 teams place on COVID reserve list.
  • Dan Graziano (ESPN): Players who attend high-risk events and catch COVID away from the team’s facilities can be subjected to disciplinary action, including lack of pay.
    This is somewhat draconian in nature, especially since it’s essentially dictating what a player can/can’t do away from the facility, but I understand the reasoning behind it. Players do have a responsibility to make sure that virus isn’t circulating through their locker rooms. This won’t be an issue with the Patriots locker room, the coaches and players will talk about that and get everyone on the same page.

Ben Brown (Pro Football Focus): Biggest line movements related to 2020 season win totals. Patriots listed under Swing Under Key Number. “The team shaken most by offseason moves has seen its win total number fluctuate wildly throughout the offseason. Shortly after the Super Bowl, the Patriots opened at 10.5 wins and were tied for the fourth-most expected wins given their current total. After Tom Brady departed, they dropped a game and a half before rebounding to 9.5 after the signing of Cam Newton.”

Mike Florio and Charean Williams (Pro Football Talk): Dalvin Cook’s agent disputes report that the Vikings star RB will report to camp without a deal.
I linked both articles because they outright contradict each other with different narratives. It will be interesting to see what ultimately happens.

Charean Williams (Pro Football Talk): Frank Gore thinks more of Adam Gase than Jamal Adams does. “He was always real with me, man,” Gore told Brian Costello of The Post. “[The Jets] have their guy [Le’Veon Bell], but he wanted me to come in and do what I can to help the team. I respect that. One thing he has never done is tell me one thing and do the other. You know what I’m saying? I feel like that’s the way it should be. He’s always been real. I respect that.”
I’d say that’s as close to a ringing endorsement as a head coach that he can get from a player.

Michael David Smith (Pro Football Talk): Jamal Adams vows to be a “man on a mission” in Seattle
For the price of two 1sts, a 3rd, and a starting safety, he’s going to have to play like a man possessed to be worth the trade and likely extension coming his way.

EXTRACURRICULAR

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